Portable lint clearer for textile machinery



E. A. 'TERRELL 1,987,582

Jan. 8, -'l 935.

PORTABLE LINT CLEARBR FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Oct. 30. 1950 6Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 8, 1935. E, A. TERRELL PORTABLE LINT CLEARER FRTEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Oct. 30. 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 8, 1935. E.A. TER RELL PORTABLE LINT CLEARER FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Oct. 30,1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 8, 1935. E. A. TERRELL PORTABLE LINT CLEARERFOR TEXTILE MACHINERY 6 Sheets-Sheet 4' Filed Oct. 30. 1930 /QZGVUJO r QU-MA-l/QP W M Jan. 8, 1935. E, A. TERRELL PORTABLE LINT CLEARER FORTEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Oct. 30. 1930 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 T 30 10 r Pk W GI I Q .7 46

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E. A. TERRELL I 1,987,582

PORTABLE LINT CLEARER FOR TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Oct. 30, 1930 6Sheets-Sheet 6 Patented Jan. 8, 1935 UNITED STATES P TE T OFFICE I IPORTABLE LINT CLEARER FOR TEXTILE 1 MACHINERY Edgar A. Terrell,Charlotte, N. 0., assignor to The Terrell Machine Company, Charlotte, N.0., a corporation of North Carolina.

Application October 30, 1930, Serial No. 492,245

9Claims. (Cl. 152

The invention has relation to lint clearing devices for use in removinglint and fly from z's'pinning frames, slubbing and roving frames,'twisters, and various other textile machines operating upon travellingyarns. The removal of .lint'and fiy which rapidly accumulates on parts.of the machine adjacent the running yarns be- -comes necessaryperiodically in order to prevent accumulated masses of fibers frombecoming caught by the travelling yarns and carried for- Ward thereby tobecome fixed in the yarns in the course of the step or processbeing'performed on the-latter, and resulting in the formation of slubsandbunches in the finished yarns which seriously impair their value.

:.The principal object of the present invention isto provide novelandimproved pneumatic lint clearer devices having a high degree ofefficiency in the. removal of lint and fly and having capacity for beingadapted to operate upon a relatively Wide range of different textilemachines and upon various parts and localities of such machines;

Special objects of the invention include the provision of means forcleaning two oppositely- .located textile machines simultaneously, andfor modifying the force and character of the cleaning action to thespecific needs of the particular machine being cleaned. Further objectsof the invention will become apparent from the following description;

-' The invention consists in the novel and im- .proved constructions andcombination of parts shown and described in the accompanying drawingsand specification and particularly. pointed out in the claims appendedhereto.

Illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanyingdrawings, in which,- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of theinvention.

. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same.

' Fig. 3 is a ;p1a.n view of the same.

Fig. 4- is a view similar to Fig. 2,. of an alternative embodiment.

Fig. 5 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3 of such alternative embodiment.;-,"Fi g, 6 is a horizontal section on line 6-6 of Fi 4;

. Fig. .7 is a view similar to Fig. 2 of still another embodiment.

Fig. 8 Ba section on line 8-8 of Fig. 7, with the addition of a fanguard.

Fig. 9. is a section on line 99 of Fig. -7.

Referring, to the drawings:

.. Theimproved clearer device of Figs. 1 to 3 comprises a wheeledcarriage supporting a standard on which ismounted a plurality ofindividual blast-producing means, the organization being adapted to bepassed down the aisle between rows of oppositely-located textilemachines such as spinning frames and the like, and toclean and clearsimultaneously the desired or selected parts of a pair of such machines,located face-to-face on opposite sides of such aisle.

. The carriage for the improved clearer comprises a base 1 provided witha pair of large wheels 2 turning freely on a transverse shaft 3 fixed inposition at midlength of the base, the wheels being capableofindependent rotation to permit ofithedevice being turned sharply inits course. Additional small wheels or casters 4 are provided at theends of the base 1, which might be arranged in known manner so that thedevice may travel on the two large wheels with the casters 4' out ofcontact with the floor. A hand-rail 5 extends upwardly from the base 1to provide the operator with convenient means for pushing the deviceabout.

. The means for effecting the pneumatic removal of the lint and flycomprise a plurality of fans or blowers or other devicesfor producing ablast of air, borne by the wheeled carriage and adjustable with respectthereto as to their height, direction and angular relation. In thepreferred embodiment shown in the drawings the means are fans. 6 offamiliar propeller type, driven by individual electric motors 7 upon therespective shafts of which the fans are mounted, the motors "beingdriven by electric current from a common source of power which may bethe power lines of the mill, to which they may be connected. by means ofa flexible cable attached to such lines and leading to the wheeledcarriage l, or, in the event that greater mobility of the lintclearer isdesired, the power for driving the motors'may be secured from storagebatteries (not shown) carried within the compartment 8 in the base, towhich access is had through the hinged coversQ forming the top of thebase or wheeled carriage 1.

g The fans 6 are mounted on laterally extending arms 10, 11, supportedby a central standard 12, in order that they may deliver theirrespective blasts in close proximity to the parts desired to be cleanedby the device as'the latter is wheeled past the front of the spinningframe or other textile machine. The fans are arranged in pairs and.oppositely directed relations, so that the device may be wheeled downthe center of the aisle between oppositely-located spinning frames orother machines, as stated, to clean simultaneously the correspondingparts on a pair of spinning frames or the like. To provide for thedifferent widths of aisles adopted by different mills in locatingspinning frames and other machines, provision is made for varying theposition of the fans laterally with respect to the direction of movementof the wheeled carriage. Herein this is effected by slotting the"transversely extending supporting arms 10, 11, as indicated at 13, andattaching them by means of hand-screws 15 passing through such slots, tocollars 14, fixed upon the standard 12. The collars 14 are formed withrecesses of a width adapted to receive within them the width of thesupporting arms 10, 11, so that such arms will be held out at rightangles to the vertical standard 12. I

It is contemplated as shown to employ more than one fan to eifect thecleaning of the desired portions of each machine as the cleaning devicepasses along in front thereof. Herein the device comprises twofansoperating at different levels upon each of the two oppositely-locatedmachines intended to v be cleaned simultaneously. This illustrated formis particularly adapted for use in cleaning spinning frames, for whichpurpose the .lower fan at each side of the standard 12 will be locatedatthe proper height from the floor to direct its blast upon and thus cleanthe traverse rail and the other parts in the locality of such rail,while the upper fan at each side of the standard will be set at a properheight from the floor to operate upon the creel surmounting the spinpingframe, and the other parts in the locality of the creel. To adapt thedevice to the specific type of spinning frame or other textile machineto be operated upon, means is provided for adjusting the height at whichthe fans are supported, this ;ing screw 16 provided in each collar tobear 1 against the surface of the standard 12 and to .maintain the.collar and its associated pair. of

fans at the proper level.

To provide for directing the blast of each fan at the proper angle toclean most effectively the particular type of machine upon which hisdesired to operate, each fan and its motor is supported ina holder 17which is secured to the ends of the arms 10, 11, by means of hand-screws18 so that the inclination of the fan axis and consequently thedirection of its blast may be adjusted in a vertical plane.

Thus the blast of each fan may be directed obliquely downward or upward,

or vertically downward, or by turning the fanxand motor end-for-end inthe holder 17, it may be -made to blow vertically upward; or the blastsof both fans at one side of the standard may be made'to converge fromabove and from below simultaneously upon a single localityin the machinewhich it is desired to clean. To provide for reduction of the lateralwidth of the device so as to facilitate its passage through narrowpassageways and to clear other obstacles as it is transported about themill, the standard 12 is mounted rotatably upon the base 1, so as topermit the arms and the fans at the ends thereof to be swung into linewith the direction of movement of the device as wheeled about and to bebrought within the width of the base 1, as'indicated in dotted lines inFig; 3. This is effected by stepping the standard .12 infreely'rotatable relation within a socket 19- on the top surface of thebase-1, and providing the standard 12 with ahandle 20 procharacter ofthe work" desired to be jecting out radially and then carried upwardparallel to the standard to provide means within reach of the operatorin his position behind the hand-rail 5 whereby he may rotate thestandard and the fans from their normal working relation into theirfore-and-aft relation, and vice versa. Stops 21 are provided on the rimof the socket 19 to limit'the turning to substantially*a%90 angle.

The use of a plurality of individual blast-producing devices such as theseveral fans shown herein provides a device having extreme flexibilityand adaptability to the specific uses to whichit may be put. Each fan orunit can be controlled independently as for example to shut off the fansat one side of the standard where the fans at theother' side are servingto clean and clear a single isolated spinning frame or machine; Or theupper pair of fans may be used alone, while the lower pair are shut off,or vice versa. Through the use of rheostats and the like well-knownmeans for controlling. the: speed of electric fan motors, the forceofthe blast delivered by each fan may be modified to meet the needs inhand, as where certain surfaces and portions of the machine beingcleaned require or y can endure only a blastof limited force, asaboutthe traverse rail of a spinning frame operating on line counts of yarns,and where damagepr breakage of the ends would result from a strong blastof air. Or adjustment of therelative force of the blasts from differentfan's may'beefiected by retracting the fan or fans toward the standard12. Also, the device provides for varying the intensity or character ofthe blast through change of the type or shapeofi the fan-blast employed.By the choice of'suitably shaped blades,

it is possible to obtain either a narrow and-con:- .centrated blast ofair therefrom, or. a flaringaor spray like blast gentler in its action,tousuitcthe by the device.

Toassure the completeness: of the-'cleanlng action, the operator may ifdesired swingithe standard 12 by means of the handle20 Fas: he propels,the devicei past the spinningaframes' or other machinesso as to swingthe"-fans:about the axis of the standard throughout'an armor 90 or so;Thus'the lblasts ofair will be enabled to clean the lint morethoroughly' from -behmd projections on the-machine. For this mannerrof 1use, the pin 21 and the handle -20 iwill be appropriately located. Orthei'oscillation; of. the various blasts may beaccomplished autbmatically through the use of the familiar 'oscillatiiig mountings for thefans; themselves, operated through the rotationi of thefan."

In .the embodiment of the invent/10m shown in Fig. l, the arrangement fof the carriage: is

the 'same' as described hereinbefor; but the standard 12 is combinedwith the carriage in non-rotating relation, while the laterallyextending arms 30 areradaptedi to rotate freelyabout the verticalstandard 121 at the desired Height. Thus, in this embodiment each fanwhil'e operating. travels in a circleaboutthe' vertical axes of thestandard12, preferably througlibeing set to "direct its 'blast' at anangle"with "the radial arm 30 on which it is mounted, so that thereaction of the fanx-3 2gi oppositely directed with'respect to the blastwhich it produces,-Wl1l produoe component of force: tangential: withrespect to the orbit of the fan aroundcthestandar12 and thus th'e fanw'ill propel: itself around such standard. In the form-shown the-'fan 'sblast is directly exactly tangentially to its orbltra posiperformed'tion giving the maximum turning eiiect of the fan and its arm about thestandard 12. Ad-

- justment of the fan so that its blast is directed more or lessradially outward will serve to retard the'speed of 'rotation of the fanabout its orbit to the desired extent, while with the blast directedexactly radially outward, there will. be hereaction tending to revolvethe fan about the standard 12. To provide for modifying the force of theblast delivered to the machine to be cleaned, the fans 32 are mounted onthe arms 30 with capacity for adjustment of their nearness or remotenessfrom the standard 12, in order that each fan may approach more closelyto the machine being cleaned and hence actmore forcefully thereon as itsweeps by in its orbit, during the course of travel of the device alongthe front iofthe, machine, or so that the effect of the blast -may beweakenedby having the fan nearer the standard 12, and consequently moreremote from the machine.

To provide for free rotation of the fans about the axis of the standard12, the arms 30 are 'means of slidable collars 38 adapted to be fixed atthe proper height upon the standard by clamping screws 40, theanti-friction bearing being interposed between the collar 34 whichrotates freely on the standard 12 and such clamping collar 38.

To arrest the rotation of the fans in their orbits promptly so that thedevice may be passed through a narrow space, as between belts descendingfrom a common overhead shaft to opposite sides of the aisle along whichthe machine is being passed, or for other similar reasons, stopmeans areprovided in the form of a pin 42 disposed in a radial hole 44 of therotating collar 34, the pin being pressed inward against the surface ofthe standard 12 by means of a flat spring 46 fixed on the collar, thestandard 12 being formed with a way or channel 48 extendingsubstantially throughout its length, into which the pin 42 may enter toarrest the rotation of the collar 34 when the arm 30 is disposed in thedirection of movement of the carriage. To hold the pin 42 normally outof contact with the surface of the standard 12 and hence out ofengagement with the way 48, the hole 44 is of key-hole shape, and thepin 42 has a corresponding key extending laterally therefrom near itsouter end, so that when withdrawn a sufiicient distance away from thesurface of the standard 12, the pin 42 may be turned so that its key orlateral extension rests on the outer surface of the collar 34 andprevents it from entering the channel 48. Thus, in approaching a narrowpassage, the operator checks the rotation of the fans-in their orbit bygrasping the arm 30 and then turns the pin 42 to permit it to enter theway 48 upon arrival thereat, so that further rotation of the fan aboutthe standard 12 is suspended until the pin 42 is again withdrawn,without the necessity for shutting off the fans or otherwise waiting forthe parts to come to rest.

While only one fan-unit is shown with its appropriate collar 34 andbearing two fans, one upon each of the two arms 30 in connection with'therotati rig collar 34, it will be'u'nderstood that two or morefan-units each with two or more of such fans may be employed upon thestandard 12,as theLutilization of the. particular employment of thedevice may dictate.

In the form shown in Fig. 7, the movable "supfan-shaped element 52having an arcuate slot 54.

The fans 56 are borne upon one or more arms 58 pivotally attached as at60 to a horizontal pivot passing through the support 50 so that the arms58 can swing in a vertical are about the center of the pivot 60. To holdthe arms in the desired angular widthwise extent needed to bringithefans 56 into proper proximity with the machine past which the device isbeing moved, the arms 58 are provided with clamping bolts 62 put throughthe arcuate slot 54 in the fan-shaped member 52 and provided withwing-nuts. To adjust the angular relation of the arms 58 and thus thedistance of the fans 56 from the central axis of the support 50,-theclamping screws 62 are loosened in obviousmanner and the desired angularadjustment made, after which the parts are maintained inadjusted"position through again tighteningthe screws 62. In this formthe rotatable mounting of the support 50 in con nectionwith the carriage1 permits the fans-to be swung into the line of travel of the carriage 1through rotating the superstructure above the carriage. a-quarter turnfrom the position shown in Fig. 7.

The fans are mounted for adjustment of their manipulation of theclamping screws 68 which tighten the straps about the arms 58. In thisform also, the fans may be set so as to produce continuous rotation ofthe superstructure about the axis of the standard 50 as a result of thereaction of the fans referred to, if desired.

It is desirable that all the fans in the various embodiments shown beprovided with the customary guards 70 shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

While I have illustrated and described certain forms in which theinvention may be embodied, I am aware that many modifications may bemade therein by any person skilled in the art, without departing fromthe scope of the inven tion as expressed in the claims. Therefore, I donot wish to be limited to the particular forms shown, or to the detailsof construction thereof, but what I do claim is:

1. A portable lint clearer for spinning frames having in combination acarriage, and means thereon for creating a plurality of independentblasts of air, each of such blasts being created ata difierent point onthe lint clearer and beyond the lateral extent of the carriage, theblastcreating means being so controlled as not to damage the strands.

2. A portable lint clearer having in combination a carriage, and aplurality of fans thereon to direct blasts of air in diiierentdirections, each fan being individually adjustable with respect to thecarriage to vary the angular direction of its blast, and means to modifythe force of one blast independently'of' the force of another'blast,

thei fanbeing so' controlled as not to damage the strands.

3. A portable lintrclearerhaving 'in'combination a carriage, a pluralityof fansthereonto. direct blasts of air in different directions, each fanbeing individually adjustable with respect to the carriage to vary theangular direction of its blast,

and means for variation of each fans position widthwise of the carriageto modify theforce of its blast on the object cleaned independently of.the force of the other blasts the fans beingso controlled as not todamage the strands.

4. A portable lint clearer for spinning frames having in'combination acarriage, a plurality of fans thereon to create blasts of air atdifierent points on the lint clearer, and means for variation of theelevation of the fans'with respect to the carriage to correspond withthe elevation of-thelocality to be cleaned, the fans; being socontrolled as not to damage the strands.

5: A portable lint clearer having in combination a carriage, apluralityiof fans thereon to direct blasts of air in differentdirections, means for variation of the elevation of the fans withrespect to the carriage, each fan being individually adjustable withrespect to the others to vary the angular direction of its blast,andmeans for variation of a fans position widthwise of the carriage toextend the fan more or. less into regions inaccessible to the carriage;the fans being so controlled as not to damage the strands.

6. A portable lint clearer having in combination a carriage, fans, and,means for extending the fans laterally of the carriage into proximitywith. the machine being operated upon andfor withdrawing. them withinrthe width of the carriage, comprising outwardly extending armssupporting the fans, and a standard supporting the arms, the standardbeing. rotatably mounted in connection with the carriage, the fans beingso controlled as not to damage the strands.

'7. A portable lint clearer for spinning frames having in combination acarriage, a fan thereon to direct its blast to the locality of thering-rail of the spinning frame,xand a fanthereon. to direct its blastto the locality of the creel in connection with the spinning'frame, thefans being so controlled as not to damage the strands, and means for"independently controlling the intensity of the blasts.

8. A portable lint clearer for spinning frames having in combination; acarriage. a support-in connection with the carriage, fans, meanssupporting the fans permitting the latter'to move in a horizontal pathwith respect to the carriage, and means for varying thelateral extentofsuch path with respect'to the carriage, the fans being so controlled asnot'to damage the strands. I

9'. A portable lint'clearer for spinning frames having in combination, acarriage, a support in connection Withthe carriage,rfans,.,meanssupportingthe fans permitting the latter to move in a horizontal pathwith respect to the carriage, and means for varying the lateral extentand theelevation of such path withrespect to the carriage, the fansbeing so controlled as not to damage the strands.

EDGAR A. TERRELL.

